GPUS is honored to announce that two of our projects, Capital One Cafe and Downtown Santa Monica Hotels, have been nominated for the Los Angeles Business Journal's 2019 Commercial Real Estate Awards, in the Retail and Hospitality categories, respectively. The Awards celebrate developers, general contractors, architects and brokers involved in trailblazing projects and their essential contributions to the Los Angeles economy. As a nominee, GPUS will also be highlighted in the February 18th edition of the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio is working with Hostelling International USA to expand and modernize 1432 2nd Street in Santa Monica. This includes the addition of roughly 36 hotel style guest rooms to the existing 273 beds in the currently dormitory style rooms within approximately 31,000 sq. ft.

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio is working on the Design Guidelines for the the City of Los Angeles' plan to redevelop the Civic Center in Downtown LA. A community meeting was held last month at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center to give local residents and workers an opportunity to learn about and offer input on the Civic Center District Design Guidelines.

Construction of the GP-US designed commercial project on Montana Avenue is well under way, and it is looking great. Exterior finishes, glazing, hardscape to be completed in the next few months before the new tenant moves in.

Inglewood Library/Teen Center
The City of Inglewood is re-purposing a library that has fallen to disuse to serve the population and promote digital literacy, after school programs and conventional library services.

The Inglewood Senior Center project has won one or more of the coveted Regional, Distinction, Merit, Design Excellence and/or Project of the Year awards from the Design-Build Institute of America. The final results will be unveiled at the annual Awards Banquet on May 17, 2018 in San Diego.

The project goals included providing a facility that serves as a “warm and friendly home away from home” for seniors. The goals were accomplished through the collaborative and transparent approach by all team members.

Planning Commission Approves Offices on Pico Boulevard

The Santa Monica Planning Commission approved an 18,000 square foot office building with ground floor retail at 2929 Pico Boulevard earlier this month. The two-story structure will be about 32 feet tall. A two-level underground garage will have 61 car parking spaces and 18 bicycle parking spaces for office workers and customers.

The much-anticipated new senior center in downtown Inglewood had its grand opening on Friday, January 12th, with the staff of GP-US on-hand to watch the ceremony. GP-US was the City’s representative on the project, and worked with the community to create design guidelines that ultimately led to the programming and the look of the finished center. Pictured here, from left to right, are: Jim Trammell, Mayor James T. Butts, Amy Amirani, and Gwynne Pugh.

Gwynne Pugh Leads AIA|LA Tour of Santa Monica Hotels

On January 25th Gwynne Pugh, accompanied by Executive Architect Gene Fong and Interior Designer David Dunphy, led a tour of the two GP-US-designed hotels in downtown Santa Monica. The three men showed off their recent project - which officially opened to the public last spring - to friends, colleagues, and other design professionals. The event was one in a series sponsored by the Los Angeles chapter of the AIA, in which guests are invited to tour a space with the architect responsible for it.

The new long-awaited senior center in downtown Inglewood is in the final stages of construction and is set to open to the public next month. GP-US was the City's representative on this design-build project, working as the lead alongside gkkworks and Pinner Construction. The new center is seen as being crucial to the revitalization of downtown Inglewood, which will soon also be home to the massive stadium and entertainment complex currently being built just blocks away.

Work Continues on Homeless Services Center

Construction is humming along on the new homeless services center in San Luis Obispo, co-designed by GP-US and local firm garcia architecture + design. The project is part of an initiative by Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County (CAPSLO), a non-profit agency serving over 40,000 homeless people across ten counties in Central and Southern California.

The permit has been pulled and construction should begin in early 2018 on a GP-US-designed commercial project in Santa Monica. The site of the sleek new building is Montana Avenue, an upscale neighborhood on the north side of the City. The 2,500 square-foot building will house a soon-to-be-determined restaurant.

AIA|LA to Hold Tour of GP-US's Santa Monica Hotels

The Los Angeles chapter of the AIA (American Institute of Architects) will hold a tour of the two hotels designed by GP-US, which opened earlier this year. The event is part of a regular series hosted by AIA|LA, in which new buildings around town are shown off by the architects responsible for them. The tour will happen in late January of 2018 and will be led by Gwynne Pugh, Executive Architect Gene Fong, and interior designer David Dunphy.

Construction continues on the new senior center in downtown Inglewood, with an eye on the project being completed by the end of the year. With work on the exterior mostly complete, the focus now shifts to the interior of the building. The new center has been years in the making and will be the focal point for social services for the City of Inglewood, as well as neighboring Hawthorne and Lennox. When finished, it will provide lunches, exercise facilities, counseling, and social gathering spaces for local seniors.

Construction Moving Along in San Luis Obispo

Up the coast in San Luis Obispo, construction is ongoing for the new homeless services center designed by GP-US and local firm garcia architecture + design. Trenching for water and sewer is currently happening, and framing and sheathing will continue for the next few weeks. The project is on schedule to be completed by Spring of 2018.

GP-US will lead a multi-disciplinary team in identifying key community issues and ideas that will form the basis for a new International Downtown Specific Plan for the City of Artesia. In addition to the City, GP-US will be working with Eco-Rapid and Metro, the latter for whom GP-US also created design guidelines for developments in Boyle Heights. The Artesia project will also see GP-US re-teaming with international design and planning firm Perkins+Will, which was also part of the Metro/Boyle Heights team.

GP-US Wins On-Call Contract with LACCD

GP-US has been awarded a multi-year contract with the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) for on-call architectural services. The LACCD is the largest community college district in the nation and encompasses nine separate campuses across the county, serving more than 250,000 students.

GP-US in the Press

The recently completed Capital One bank & café designed by GP-US has been a big hit within the community and has been featured in several articles online. The new 8,400 square foot building at the corner of 4th & Broadway in downtown Santa Monica was the subject of an article in Building Design & Construction, and has also been featured in AEC Café and BisNow, among other publications.

Construction continues to move right along on the new Senior Center in downtown Inglewood. The new two-story 35,000 square foot building will be the focal point for social services for the City of Inglewood as well as neighboring Hawthorne and Lennox. Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio (GP-US) is serving as the City's representative on the project, overseeing a design-build team that consists of gkkworks and Pinner Construction, respectively. The building is on track to be completed by the end of the year.

Foundation Poured for Homeless Services Center

Meanwhile, construction is also under way up north on the new homeless services center in San Luis Obispo co-designed by GP-US and garchia architecture + design. The foundation has been poured and the building should be completed by April of 2018. Funding was provided by local non-profit Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO).

This month saw the opening of the Capital One Bank & Café at the intersection of 4th & Broadway in the heart of downtown Santa Monica. GP-US designed the core and shell of the building, which houses Capital One's innovative new bank model. Rather than tellers behind a traditional counter, the bank/café combo features mobile tellers ready to answer questions and conduct banking needs in an open and communal atmosphere. The building was designed with this in mind and features a transparent entrance and ground floor - including folding glass doors that open to the sidewalk - in order to create a space that is light and welcoming. This new building sits just up the street from the recently opened hotels also designed by GP-US.

Design Review in West Hollywood

GP-US is performing design review on behalf of the City of West Hollywood, offering detailed notes of projects being proposed within the City. One such project, and Gwynne's comments on it, were recently highlighted in a local article.

Construction will begin tomorrow on a long-awaited homeless services center in San Luis Obispo. The project was designed by GP-US, in partnership with local firm garcia architecture + design. The project is being spearheaded by Community Action Partnership San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO), a non-profit serving the needs of homeless men, women, and children. The new facility will consolidate the current outdated day and night facilities under one roof.

Construction of Inglewood Senior Center Continues

Meanwhile in downtown Inglewood, construction continues to hum along on the City’s new senior center. The new center, for which GP-US created the design guidelines on behalf of the City, is expected to open by the end of the year.

Earlier this month saw the opening of a new Hampton Inn & Suites on Colorado Ave. & 5th St. in downtown Santa Monica, marking the completion of two new hotels at that intersection designed by GP-US. Directly across 5th Street from the Hampton sits the Courtyard by Marriott, which opened its doors to the public in March. The hotels were designed simultaneously for owner OTO Development, with Gene Fong Associates serving as the Executive Architect. The Hampton, with its sea foam green tower, makes a striking contrast to the deep orange of the neighboring Marriott. This juxtaposition was purposeful, with the green Hampton meant to symbolize the ocean and the Marriott representing the land. GP-US has designed two hotels that not only complement each other, but also fit into the recently changed landscape of downtown Santa Monica.

Friday, March 17th saw the opening of the Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Santa Monica, one of two new hotels designed by GP-US, with Gene Fong Associates as the Executive Architect on the projects. The six-story hotel is a striking new addition to the downtown Santa Monica skyline, with its bold orange color sure to make it a local icon. Though it bears a familiar brand name, the distinctive design lends the hotel an upscale, boutique feel. GP-US simultaneously designed an aesthetically complementary Hampton Inn & Suites across the street. That hotel, with its ocean-inspired green facade, is set to open next month. Together the hotels will act as a new gateway to the City, greeting riders at the terminus of Metro’s newly-extended Expo Line, as well as motorists exiting the 10 freeway.

Work on the new Senior Center in downtown Inglewood is progressing, with the framing nearly done and the building starting to take the shape seen in earlier renderings. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, and will be greeted enthusiastically the local senior community, which has been sorely in need of such a building for years.

An Update on the Santa Monica Hotels

With the onslaught of rain experienced in Southern California this winter, construction has been slowed somewhat on the Courtyard by Marriott and Hampton Inn & Suites in downtown Santa Monica. The hotels are now set to debut in March/April, with the Marriott being the first to open its doors to the public.

With nearly all the financial hurdles now cleared, non-profit agency Community Action Partnership San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO) has announced that it will break ground on its new homeless services center in March of 2017. The project was designed by Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio in partnership with local San Luis Obispo firm Garcia Architecture + Design. This new 26,000 square foot building will provide comprehensive services for the population throughout San Luis Obispo County, and will accommodate 110 beds for single adults and families. The building will house a spacious multi-use room, laundry facilities, showers, a multi-purpose area, a library, computers, offices for case workers and staff, medical exam rooms, mental health facilities, a large dining room, and a commercial kitchen. There will be a play area for children, a recreation area, and pet kennels for the residents.

In a welcome sight for the local senior community, construction on the new senior center in downtown Inglewood has come up out of the ground as the building gets closer to becoming a reality. The groundbreaking ceremony was held back in February, and in the months since construction has been focused underground on the subterranean parking. The building is scheduled to be completed by Winter 2017.

Santa Monica Hotels Nearing Completion

The distinctive colored panels have been almost completely unmasked, in a preview of the strong visual statement the completed hotels will make for visitors entering downtown Santa Monica. The Courtyard by Marriott and Hampton Inn & Suites are now targeting openings of January 15th and February 19th, respectively.

GP-US Completes Design on New Commercial Building in Santa Monica

Design work has been completed for a new 2,500 square foot commercial building at the corner of Montana Ave. and 15th Street in Santa Monica. An as-yet-determined restaurant is the intended occupant, with the design set to go before the City’s Architectural Review Board on December 5th.

The two hotels going up on fifth and Colorado are starting to look more and more like the renderings that preceded them, as the colored wall panels have now been revealed. Meanwhile, just up the street at 4th & Broadway, the exterior of the building looks nearly complete, with the glass having been installed this week.

GP-US Presents Mariachi Plaza Design Guidelines to Stakeholders

Earlier this month Gwynne Pugh stood before the Boyle Heights Design Review Advisory Committee (“DRAC”) to present a set of design guidelines for future development on the Metro-owned Mariachi Plaza. The committee was put together by Metro to represent a broad group of stakeholders and to participate in the design review process. The design guidelines were put together by GP-US as part of its ongoing work with Metro, to help foster more community-friendly development, and were well received by the committee.

Construction continues to hum along on the GP-US designed hotels at Colorado and 5th in downtown Santa Monica. As seen in the pictures to the right, the western façade of the Courtyard by Marriott is finished, and the glass on the southern face of the Hampton Inn & Suites is nearly complete. The hotels, which will greet riders on Metro’s new Expo Line, are targeting a November opening.

Construction on Capital One Bank Continues

Just up the street from the hotels is the site of another GP-US designed project in downtown Santa Monica, this one a Capital One bank and café at the corner of 4th and Broadway. The white glazed brick that will serve as the building’s façade is nearly finished and can already be seen glimmering in the Santa Monica sun. The core and shell of the building will be complete by mid-November, with the bank and café scheduled to open for business by the end of March.

GP-US has completed its work as a consultant to the Queen Mary Task Force, with the creation of the official Guiding Principles. The document provides guidance on the best use for the land surrounding the iconic ship, and includes plans for a five-star hotel, amphitheater, and a carousel. More information on the process can be found here.

Construction Progressing at 4th and Broadway

Framing is complete for the new GP-US designed Capital One bank and café going up in downtown Santa Monica. The core and shell is due to be completed by the end of the year, with the bank and café opening in early 2017.

GP-US Continues Work on Long Beach Airport Approach

One of several recent projects in the City of Long Beach, GP-US is currently working on a design for a new sequence of structures and signs leading up to the Long Beach Airport, with the goal of giving the airport a more unique and iconic presence.

It won’t be long before riders exiting the new Expo Line in downtown Santa Monica are greeted with a new sight - a pair of distinctive GP-US-designed hotels. September is the target date for completion of the Courtyard by Marriott and Hampton Inn & Suites, which will act as a new gateway to the City, receiving residents and visitors alike.

New Ride On Facility Has Its Grand Opening

On Saturday, June 4th Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship celebrated the Grand Opening of its new facility in Chatsworth, CA. GP-US designed the main building for the facility, which acts as a reception area and also houses therapy rooms and space for workshops and volunteer training. Founded in 1994, Ride On is a non-profit that teaches adaptive horseback riding to children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities.

GP-US Awarded Trio of On-Call Contracts

In the past month GP-US has been awarded contracts for on-call architectural services with three different public institutions – the City of Glendale, the City of Irvine, and Los Angeles County’s Department of Parks and Recreation. The new contracts promise to take advantage of GP-US’s diverse range of capabilities, with projects of varying types and sizes.

The Long Beach Facades – a renovation of four neglected storefronts in Long Beach, CA – has been named a winner of a 2016 Westside Urban Forum Design Award. The awards competition, held annually, recognizes projects that demonstrate excellence in city making and community building. The facades project has helped reinvigorate a key half city block adjacent to a Metro Blue Line stop in the heart of the City.

Santa Monica Expo Line Opens Across from
GP-US-Designed Hotels

May 20th saw the grand opening of the second leg of Metro’s Expo Line, extending the rail service from Culver City to downtown Santa Monica. The new terminus of the line sits across the street from the future site of the GP-US-designed Courtyard Marriott and Hampton Inn & Suites, which are set to open this fall. In addition, Gwynne Pugh was Santa Monica’s official representative to the Urban Design Committee for the new Metro line, which oversaw design and resource opportunities for the stations.

GP-US is working with the Queen Mary Task Force in a workshop format to generate ideas and to help focus and conceptualize future development for the district immediately around the Queen Mary in the Port of Long Beach. The goal is to create a world-class destination for the local Long Beach population and visitors alike. The project has been featured in many recent articles, including this one from Curbed LA.

Construction Continues on Ride On Community Center

The new Community Center for non-profit Ride On LA is getting closer to completion, ahead of an opening ceremony planned for June 2nd. The GP-US designed building will accommodate a workshop and volunteer training space in addition to therapy rooms, handicapped-accessible restrooms, a reception area, kitchenette, and storage space.

GP-US Honored at the 2016 SQA Luncheon

GP-US was honored as a Grand Prize winner before a packed house at a luncheon held on April 21st for the 2016 Sustainable Quality Awards. The event was attended by local business owners and green industry experts, and was broadcast on Santa Monica CityTV. You can read more about GP-US's win here and here.

GP-US has been named a Grand Prize Winner in the 2016 Sustainable Quality Awards (SQAs). The SQAs inspire local businesses to adopt sustainable practices and support Santa Monica as a sustainable community. GP-US received the Grand Prize for being a business that has made significant achievements in the categories of economic development, social responsibility, and stewardship of the environment. An awards ceremony will be held on April 21st at Le Meridien Delfina Santa Monica Hotel.

GP-US in the Press

March has been an exciting month for GP-US, with multiple articles about the studio’s projects featured in the press. The Inglewood Senior Center was featured in Inglewood News Today, as well as popular real estate development blogs Urbanize LA and BisNow. Additionally, GP-US’s work for Metro in Boyle Heights was covered by KPCC and Streetsblog LA.

Construction Begins on Capital One Bank in Santa Monica

Construction has begun at the corner of 4th and Broadway in downtown Santa Monica, the future site of a GP-US designed Capital One bank. The building will be a big departure from typical banks, in that it will feature a ground-level café with mobile tellers. Construction is expected to be completed by late 2016.

Today was the official Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Senior Center in downtown Inglewood. The entire staff of GP-US was on-hand to take in the ceremony, along with Inglewood Mayor James Butts, members of the City Council, and a large contingent of the senior community. The project is being met with much excitement in the City, as it has been 12 years in the making. It is seen by many as a critical element in the revitalization of downtown Inglewood.

Charrettes for Eastside Metro Projects

This past weekend GP-US participated in a charrette for one of the projects being developed by Metro in East Los Angeles. GP-US and Perkins + Will will ultimately be responsible for the design guidelines on the future development, and this was an early opportunity for the community to have their say on what will be built.

Brad Buter Promoted to Associate

Brad Buter, who has been practicing architecture for 9 years and a part of the GP-US team since 2011, has been promoted to Associate. He will continue to expand his leadership role in all of the firm’s projects and day-to-day operations.

With the plans for the exterior of the building completed late last year, the designs for the interior of the new Inglewood Senior Center have also now been finalized. The two-story building will contain spaces for dining, exercise facilities, counseling, and social gathering. Public art will be incorporated in the form of an original piece by Los Angeles artist Susan Narduli. GP-US is leading the design/build team, which consists of gkkworks and Pinner Construction.

Founded in 1994, Ride On’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities through therapeutic horsemanship. GP-US designed a new building for Ride-On that will accommodate hundreds of riders per week, plus employees and other support staff. Understanding that site qualities and context are of vital importance to any design, the team looked to the adjacent Stoney Point rock formation as inspiration, creating a building that fits into its surroundings.

The recently completed Long Beach Facades Project, already popular with local merchants and residents, is now beginning to attract the attention of the press. The Long Beach Post has published an article on the project, highlighting GP-US's success at reinvigorating the key half city block and bringing a design aesthetic that fits into the neighborhood.

The project is also currently being featured on the popular website AECCafe.com and will soon be the subject of a feature article in the dual-language Chinese landscape publication International New Landscape.

Long Beach Airport

Continuing to build on its relationship with the City of Long Beach, GP-US is now working on the design of a new approach to the Long Beach Airport. This will be the sequence of structures and/or other visuals that visitors see as they drive into the airport.

Working alongside global architecture firm Perkins + Will and Dake Luna, Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio (GP-US) has been hired by Metro to serve as a consultant on four upcoming projects. In this capacity, GP-US will ensure that the new projects adhere to a stricter standard of design excellence and community involvement. The process will include extensive community outreach and the use of design charrettes to inform the scope of development and the creation of an official set of design guidelines.

It is the goal of Metro to take a holistic approach to its property development, creating what new Metro CEO Phillip Washington refers to as “TOCs” or transit-oriented communities. The TOCs represent a more comprehensive approach to development, taking into account the community as a whole and making sure that the new construction not only fits into those communities from a design perspective, but enhances the lives of the residents as well. The project sites, which exist on or near Metro’s Gold Line east of downtown, each have a unique set of aesthetics and community needs to grapple with.

This type of work plays into the strengths and experience of GP-US, which has provided similar services throughout Southern California, most recently for the City of Inglewood in the development of its new senior center. In Metro, GP-US has a new partner with which to share its vision of architecture and design work that improves and enhances the urban experience.

In the works for a number of years, the new Senior Center in Inglewood is now one major step closer to becoming a reality. A final design concept has been completed and approved by the City. The process has involved numerous meetings with the local senior community to incorporate their input and give them exactly the facility they need. Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio (GP-US) has been responsible for creating the design guidelines and illustrative concept drawings for the design/build team, working as the lead alongside gkkworks and Pinner Construction. This new Senior Center will not only provide tremendous benefit to the community, but will serve as a catalyst to help kick-off a revitalization of downtown Inglewood.

New Creative Offices

GP-US is once again working with a former client, teaming up with developer Northwood Investors on a new venture in Santa Monica on Colorado Ave. The project will reconceptualize 60,000 sq. ft. of space across 4 buildings, plus an additional outside area, in creating a cutting edge campus for creative offices.

New Restaurant in Santa Monica

We are also pleased to announce that GP-US has been selected to design a new restaurant and retail space on Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. The project incorporates a combined 2,700 sq. ft., with the restaurant on the ground floor and retail space on the 2nd story.

Main Street

GP-US will soon get to work on three new projects on or adjacent to Main Street in Santa Monica. One of the projects will be geared toward tenant improvement, and involves the use of a historic building along the main corridor of traffic on Main St.

Santa Monica Hotels

The two hotels in Santa Monica – the Courtyard Marriott and Hampton Inn & Suites – continue to rise up out of the ground towards the sky. Construction is progressing quickly and smoothly, with the hotels scheduled to be completed by summer of next year.

Harmoniously blending a modern style with the existing streetscape, Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio (GP-US) is at work on a new mixed-use building at the corner of 4th & Broadway. The low-scale two-story building will house a café, along with mobile tellers and communal office space, as part of Capital One’s new concept in banking. The ground floor has been designed to be transparent and pedestrian friendly, with large, expansive glass folding doors, while the rest of the building composition plays with the transparency by incorporating partially screened louvers and solid walls clad with glazed brick tiles. This façade will reflect the light and other surroundings, giving the building an added level of texture and depth.

Crafted Kitchen

In other news, GP-US will be designing the new home for Crafted Kitchen + Prep in downtown Los Angeles. The project will include the renovation of an existing warehouse into 13 fully-equipped, state-of-the-art kitchen work spaces to be used by culinary artisans and other food entrepreneurs.

SMC Art Gallery

GP-US has also been selected to renovate the Art Gallery on the Madison Campus of Santa Monica College. The project involves particular focus on the acoustics of the gallery, among other updates, and furthers the growing relationship between GP-US and SMC.

Broad Stage Offices

And finally, GP-US has completed work on the remodeling of the Broad Stage offices. The project involved the refurbishment of an entrance lobby, conference room, and office spaces in the existing building on Santa Monica Blvd. adjacent to the Broad Stage.

The City of Long Beach, through a Community Block Development Grant, has been revitalizing four dilapidated buildings at the corner of Long Beach Boulevard and Anaheim Street. The Metro Blue Line, across the street and a main artery to downtown Los Angeles, provides a steady flow of pedestrian traffic amidst a mix of retail, restaurants, and housing.

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio (GP-US) designed the four new façades, adding significant visual and aesthetic improvements, strengthening and unifying the block to reinvigorate the area as a desirable pedestrian-oriented environment. Similar signage elements unify the four buildings. The design includes new paint and repair, and introduces color and public art to enliven the façade at the pedestrian level while strengthening the commercial potential in this predominantly Latino neighborhood. Photography: John Linden

Step Up, designed by Gwynne Pugh’s former firm Pugh + Scarpa, is the recipient of the 2015 AIA/HUD Secretary’s Award! Check out the article below for more information on the project and the Jury's comments.

Three of Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio's projects are coming up and out of the ground! The Courtyard Marriott, Hampton Inn, and Yapstone office are under construction and getting closer to opening up to our clients and the community.

The Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio designed Los Angeles County Office of Education Lobby and Boardroom is open for business. The new bright and open space reflects LACOE's colorful mission to provide educational programs and services to all residents in our richly diverse and multicultural global environment. Work included complete renovation of the main lobby, upgrades to the bathrooms and break room, and lighting review and recommendations, replacement of curtains with shading system, and refurbishment of wood paneling to the County’s board room.

The Long Beach Facades Improvement project is almost complete! This renovation provides significant visual and aesthetic improvements to four buildings at the corner of Long Beach Boulevard and Anaheim Street across from the Blue Line. Exterior architectural upgrades strengthen and unify the block to create a vibrant and desirable pedestrian oriented environment. Mural Artist: Hector Calderon

Construction of YapStone’s new office is underway. YapStone is a Silicon Beach tech company that delivers online payment solutions for businesses. Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio is teaming up with Minardos Group to create the Santa Monica based office space. We are excited to see this creative and collaborative open-plan work environment comes to life!

Construction is well underway on the Courtyard Hotel by Marriott. The big hole in the ground is underground parking. This urban retreat and business hotel will be located in the heart of Santa Monica with the 4th Street freeway off-ramp and light rail line just steps away from the hotel.

The City of Pomona has chosen Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio for its on-call Architecture list.

The new senior center will be in downtown Inglewood
at the corners of Locust and Queen Street.
This will act as a catalyst to invigorate the downtown
and be a long awaited gathering place for Inglewood's
senior population.

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studios design for the Orchid Tree Resort & Spa in Palm Springs with the Weintraub Real Estate Group has been approved by the Architectural Advisory Committee. The project is on a 2.87 acre site and will be an adaptive reuse of eight existing historic bungalows and a church. In addition, a new 98-room, five-story resort hotel and spa complex with restaurant and banquet facilities will be built. The project site is just off Palm Canyon Drive and nestled in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains.

The plan was roundly lauded by the committee and would transform the 3.1-acre site, which includes the badly damaged church and bungalows.

Construction on Courtyard Marriott begins at Colorado Ave. and 5th St., near the future expo line station in Santa Monica. The hotel will be a prime recipient and facility for travelers.

Design begins for the Homeless Services Center in San Luis Obispo
Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio is working with Garcia Architecture + Design on the design of the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo Homeless Services Center.

Gwynne went to the AIA Convention in Chicago this month. He led a workshop on Small Firm Sustainable Strategies at the AIA National Convention Chicago with moderator Ric Abramson, AIA, Michael Folonis, FAIA and Stuart Magruder, AIA.

Studying will become more enjoyable as students can drink their coffee and eat their muffins in a new cafe style environment at the Santa Monica College library. Design is complete on the new cafe and will be in construction soon.

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio has been commissioned to design a new hotel & spa resort in Palm Springs with the Weintraub Real Estate Group. The project is on a 2.87 acre site and will be an adaptive reuse of eight existing historic bungalows and a church. In addition, a new 90-100 room spa & hotel will be built with restaurant and banquet facilities. The project site is just off Palm Canyon Drive and nestled in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains.

Gwynne to speak at AIA Small Firms Workshop
Gwynne Pugh will be speaking at AIA|LA﻿'s Small Firms Workshop #4: Applying Sustainable Principles to Small Projects on Friday, December 13, 2013.

Gwynne is supporting two Glow artists, Rebeca Méndez - Circumsolar, Migration 1, 2013 and Mathieu Briand - 6:43pm, with engineering expertise according to the specifications of the City of Santa Monica. Glow Santa Monica is Saturday, September 28, 2013. More information is available at the glow website: http://glowsantamonica.org/

Three Projects for Santa Monica College
Urban Studio is working on 3 projects for Santa Monica College, the Broad Theater administrative offices, a cafe in the college library and the central plant utilities connection. Currently, the Broad Theater offices are under construction and expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio was selected to complete a full façade improvement for four consecutive buildings. The City of Long Beach is revitalizing a half-block in need of an upgrade at the corner of Long Beach Blvd. and Anaheim Street across from the Blue Line.

The renovation will provide significant visual and aesthetic improvements, upgrade, strengthen and unify the block to reinvigorate it as a desirable pedestrian oriented environment. The design will involve local artists to enliven this urban area at the pedestrian level with color and public art. This project is another urban design element to help invigorate the neighborhood.

The City of Inglewood has selected Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio (GP-US) for architectural, engineering and construction management services for their new Senior Center. Along with GP-US, the lead, the other team members are CivilSource Construction Managers and Engineers, Outreach Coordinators GDML, Ahbe Landscape Architects, Structural Engineers John A. Martin and Associates, and E2DI Consulting Engineers.

GP-US will create design guidelines and illustrative concept drawings as the basis for future Design/Build Proposals. Pugh says, “The Inglewood Senior Center has been in the works for a number of years and is finally on its way to realization. It is a critical element for the revitalization of downtown Inglewood.”

“The Center is much needed by the senior community and will provide lunches, exercise facilities, counseling, social gathering spaces and will be a place of respite and joy,” says Pugh. The original center was demolished ten years ago due to building safety issues. Senior services in Inglewood are currently provided out of five different locations.

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio has a successful and long standing relationship with the City of Inglewood as well as with numerous public agencies throughout Southern California. He is currently a consultant to the City of Inglewood for the design and negotiation of betterments for two transit stations along the Crenshaw Line. One of these stations is in close proximity to the Senior Center site. GP-US has brought a wide breadth of architectural and urban design experience to Inglewood and will again do so with the Senior Center project.

West Hollywood, CA - Urban Studio has been commissioned to rehab and enhance a commercial building on Sunset Strip. Plans for Sunset Splash include enhancement of the plaza, jumbotron and an additional electronic display to create a floating cloud of light.

Urban Studio has been commissioned by the Hertz Investment Group for a high-end Tenant Improvement of their corporate headquarters in downtown Santa Monica. The project includes the creation of a new floor level between the 2nd floor and roof level.

Mt. Olive Lutheran Church
Urban Studio recently completed the master plan and space needs program for Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. A 25 year Master Plan was created to move forward as both a place of worship and as a community resource center for Santa Monica residents. Urban Studio and Ahbe Landscape Architects assisted Mt Olive in reorganizing, adding needed outdoor space and creating versatility and flexibility to their campus.

Gwynne served on the ULI Technical Assistance Panel for the City of Ventura Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) redevelopment of the Medical District, which includes a new CMH, parking, and retail space. The ULI TAP panel identified effective strategies necessary to further the joint desired economic investment in the area directly surrounding the CMH campus, the location of the new CMH in-patient tower, and proposed Ventura County Medical Center tower.

Gwynne Pugh (Former Principal of Pugh + Scarpa) and Tom Hartman of IQ Magic will be speaking at the America Tropical Interpretive Center on Thursday, March 21 at 6:00-8:00 PM - Q + A with the designers Time: 7:15-7:45 PM.Location: 622 North Main Street, L.A., CA 90021
Ample parking on Main Street.

Thursday, January 10 - Gwynne Pugh served as a juror along with others from the creative community for the annual canstructionLA 2013. The exhibit and awards ceremony is Friday, January 11, 2013.
canstructionLA creates structure for feeding, not housing.

Gwynne Pugh is on the organizing committee and will act as the moderator of a panel with the Director of Planning for Los Angeles County and the Santa Monica Alliance for FutureBuild - ULI LA which looks at how sustainability can be integrated into the way developers construct the built environment.www.la.uli.org/

rail LA

Gwynne Pugh is on the organizing committee for the next Big Event at Gensler on Friday, January 25, 2013.www.railla.org/

The Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship Community Center is now out to bid in Chatsworth, CA. Ride On teaches horseback riding to children and adults with physical and mental disabilities. Founded in 1994, Ride On has given over 55,000 safe, effective and individualized lessons and therapy treatments and currently serves 160 riders each week. Chatsworth is home to the brand new facility and permanent ranch.

Gwynne Pugh has been elected to the Board of Directors of AIA/LA to serve a two year term.http://t.co/2qJHMIzW

Gwynne Pugh was recently interviewed for "Envisioning Lincoln", a documentary intended to inspire, motivate, and empower local residents and business owners to take an active role in the decision making process for the future of Lincoln Boulevard South. Click here to watch the documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_2spBw56ko

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio with Andy Waisler has recently completed an adaptive reuse of a 1940s bowstring truss and brick warehouse in Santa Monica. The 17,000 square foot building was artistically designed for a well-known animation studio that has recently achieved significant commercial success. Urban Studio designed an interior renovation that is warm, forthright and efficient, while also elegant and inspiring.

As is a consistent throughout all of Urban Studio's designs, sustainability and conservation were of paramount concern throughout the tenant improvement process. The design maintains the structure of the 1940s bowstring trusses and brick warehouse along with stripped down and polished concrete floors. The centerpiece is the 'The Cube' that serves as a screening room, two editing rooms and a central IT/Server room for the entire office. Using natural lighting paired with efficient lighting design, the space incorporates natural woods and clean colors to create a vibrant and natural aesthetic.

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio has been selected to complete a Master Plan and a Space Needs Program for Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Santa Monica, California. Over the last seventy years, Mt. Olive has been a staple in the neighborhood, serving as a spiritual center while also hosting many community services and events, including yoga classes, adult education, preschool services, and after school programs. With the intention to move forward as both a place of worship and as a community resource center for Santa Monica residents, Urban Studio will assist Mt. Olive to reorganize and add versatility to their campus. The programming process will require a number of meetings with the church's numerous volunteer teams and the larger Santa Monica community, and will result in a comprehensive and sustainable Master Plan for the 1.5 acre site. As a Master Plan, no immediate construction is anticipated.

Urban Studio will also begin the conceptual design for the administrative staff of the Hillsides Organization in Pasadena, California. A safe space for children suffering from abuse and mental illness, Hillsides is now in its 99th year of bringing aid to children in the community.

Urban Studio has additionally entered the schematic design phase for the Courtyard by Marriott and Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton located in Santa Monica, as the site's entitlements continue to be processed by the city.

On April 10th 2012, the Santa Monica City Council gave approval to the conceptual designs of the Courtyard by Marriott and the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton. Located at Colorado and 5th, the projects are now in the schematic design phase. With the city entering into negotiations for a development agreement, the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process has been initiated.

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio is embarking on a new project with Edward Bell, Pastor of Mt. Hermon Baptist Church in Santa Monica

Located on Pico Boulevard and 18th Street, the church building currently utilizes only a modest portion of the property. To better serve the needs of church patrons, Bell envisions an expansion to be positioned on over 20,000 square feet of land. Urban Studio will work with Bell to re-envision the space, incorporating a new chapel and housing facilities on the site. Familiar with reconfiguring space and providing consultation for similar projects in Santa Monica, Pugh will offer tenant improvement expertise for the project, ultimately assessing the surrounding community and recommending solutions that will reflect the needs of both visitors of Mt. Herman and Santa Monica residents. Mt. Hermon Baptist Church is pictured above.

Urban Studio also continues to provide industrial architecture services for Coca-Cola's bottling facility in Downey, one of the largest in the western US. This includes consultation services for industrial equipment, storage facilities and other ongoing miscellaneous projects within the plant.

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio has been selected as the design architect for two prominently located hotels in Santa Monica. The two hotels will be located on Colorado and Fifth Street, adjacent to Pugh + Scarpa's award-winning Step Up on Fifth and diagonally to Colorado Court. With management from OTO Development, Gene Fong Associates will act as the Executive Architect, while Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio will provide architectural and urban design for the Courtyard and Hampton Inn. These two hotels will respond to each other along a large, urban landscape, and will fit in with the existing artistic and sustainable architecture that enlivens the City of Santa Monica.

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio will provide urban design services for two future Crenshaw Light Rail lines that will run through the City of Inglewood. This will include the Florence – West and Florence – La Brea station. These exciting new projects will enhance and improve mobility throughout the neighborhood by bringing a new, 8.5-mile rail line along Crenshaw Boulevard, a necessary connector that will that will join the existing Metro Rail to Inglewood and South Los Angeles.

GP-US is actively submitting urban design concepts for each of the stations that pass through the City of Inglewood, and will additionally provide plans that outline station design, desired land use, density, building height, massing, open space, parking, and circulation. Furthermore, GP-US will provide continuing review throughout the building design process.

Committed to creating a largely accessible landmark station that is successfully integrated into the existing fabric of the surrounding community, Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio will assist in the venture of blending the aesthetics of urban design, architecture, and transportation.

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio was selected to design a community building to accommodate workshop and training space, therapy rooms, a reception area, and kitchenette. Understanding that site qualities and context are of vital importance to any design, the team will look to the adjacent Stoney Point rock formation as inspiration. Ride On’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities through therapeutic horsemanship. Ride On is a non-profit based in Chatsworth, California.

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio was selected to serve as Town Architect to the City of Fullerton. The firm is excited to begin work in this capacity, providing urban design review to projects within the area of the Fullerton Transportation Center Specific Plan. This strategic 39-acre site is envisioned as a transit-oriented, multi-modal district that is economically viable and sustainably designed.

Gwynne Pugh has recently become a consultant to the City of Inglewood. The City is using his expertise in planning the Crenshaw line, a proposed light rail project that would bring a landmark station to the downtown area.

The firm is undertaking a project with Thomas Safran & Associates, providing rehabilitation work to several affordable housing projects for senior citizens.

Gwynne Pugh’s recent business enterprise is paying off as new work streams into his solo venture.

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio partnering with garcia architecture + design and in collaboration with Katherine Spitz Landscape Architecture is excited to announce winning the commission to work with the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO) on the new Homeless Service Center facilities.

Other new projects in the public sector include a Master Plan and Remodel of the Long Beach Multi-Service Center for the homeless. The Center is making needed upgrades while reorganizing the facilities to provide services to the local homeless community and space for service agencies.

Several tenant improvements are in the line-up, one for the offices of Hertz Investment Group, another is a 17,000 square feet TI for a Santa Monica film industry company is well underway, and one for the Fireman’s Credit Union in Los Angeles. He continues work with Jeff Palmer at PMI.

Two large-scale projects that round off the slate are also in Santa Monica. Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio is teaming with award winning firm Michael W. Folonis Architects for a senior housing project.

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio is an architectural and urban design firm that specializes in the design of structures, urban design, planning, sustainability, and consultation to companies and public entities.

Latest News:

Gwynne has been elected president of the
Planners Institute of The League of California Cities.

Gwynne Pugh led Pugh + Scarpa Architects for 22 years and over that period of time the firm won many local, state and national awards.

Most recently the firm was awarded the 2010 AIA National Firm of the Year Award.